CPC leadership: Bernier’s to lose? Not quite, say insiders
Though Maxime Bernier is the apparent frontrunner in the Conservative leadership race, insiders say the voting system still means a Bernier win is not a foregone conclusion. While Michael Chong’s campaign and Chris Alexander say they see paths to victory for themselves, Deepak Obhrai’s campaign manager says she expects him to be dropped on the first […]
Take it from me: advice to the new Conservative leader
OTTAWA—Not even an oracle can properly predict what will happen during this weekend’s Conservative leadership event. Please stop calling it a “convention,” as it is not a political convention in the traditional sense. A computer program that cross-tabulates data will determine a winner, not people crossing the floor in some dramatic game-changing moment captured on […]
Political Insider’s Guide to Conservative Party Leadership Convention
BY THE NUMBERS: 13: the number of candidates running to become Conservative Party leader 11: the number of men in the running 2: the number of women in the running 4 p.m.: the time the cash bar will open on May 27 5: The number of official Conservative Party of Canada leadership debates, in Saskatoon, […]
Conservatives say leadership ‘wide open’ and ‘excited’ about party renewal, first leadership convention in 13 years
Conservative Party stalwarts say the 14-month leadership race—the party’s first in 13 years, which comes to an end in Toronto this weekend—has “renewed” the party and the new leader will have no difficulty keeping it united. “It’s exciting,” said John Reynolds, former Conservative MP and co-chairman of Maxime Bernier’s (Beauce, Que.) leadership campaign. “It’s good for […]
Sorting out the Conservative leadership race
OAKVILLE, ONT. —In just a few days we’ll get the exciting news as to who will be the next leader of Canada’s Conservative Party. And that news will … wait, hang on a second; I just noticed that I used the words “exciting” and “Conservative” in the same sentence, which I’m sure must violate some […]
Axworthy to head World Refugee Council
Former Liberal cabinet minister Lloyd Axworthy has been tapped to lead the World Refugee Council, a group that will be tasked with finding new ways to deal with the world refugee crisis. Mr. Axworthy will be chair of this organization, which has been created by the Waterloo, Ont.-based Centre for International Governance Innovation and is […]
Conservative caucus support for leadership contenders
MPs Name Constituency Support for leader Ziad Aboultaif Edmonton Manning, Alta. Andrew Scheer Dan Albas Central Okanagan- Similkameen-Nicola, B.C. Maxime Bernier Harold Albrecht Kitchener-Conestoga, Ont. Erin O’Toole Dean Allison Niagara West, Ont. Lisa Raitt Rona Ambrose Sturgeon River-Parkland, Alta. Neutral (interim leader) David Anderson Cypress Hill-Grasslands, Sask. Andrew Scheer Mel Arnold North Okanagan-Shuswap, B.C. Erin […]
Liberals up five points since April, Conservatives down slightly: public opinion poll
OTTAWA—The federal Liberals widened their lead over the opposition Conservatives to 16 percentage points as of last week, winning the support of 43 per cent of those who participated in an online poll and were not undecided. Twenty-seven per cent said they would vote Conservative if an election were held the next day, while 19 […]
Old-style conservatism on the way out
OTTAWA—Sprinkled through the policies espoused by Conservative leadership candidates are the odd laughable or alarming proposition. Like Kellie Leitch’s plan to legalize pepper spray, or Andrew Scheer’s suggestion that urban bureaucrats are plotting to take away farmers’ gun rights. Or Maxime Bernier’s plan to remove Ottawa from the national health care picture while allowing greater […]
Five lessons the next Conservative leader ought to learn from Rona Ambrose
OTTAWA—Rona Ambrose’s tenure as interim leader of the official opposition and leader of the Conservative Party is ending this week. Most would give her solid marks for her performance guiding the Conservatives after the 2015 election loss. There are a few lessons that Ambrose’s tenure provides that ought to be heeded by whoever comes along […]
